Location-based games and augmented reality systems

Abstract

Handheld location based games are provided in which a user's physical location correlates to the virtual location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Augmented Reality (AR) systems are provided in which video game indicia are overlaid onto a user's physical environment. A landscape detector is provided that may obtain information about a user's landscape, in addition to the user's location, in order to provide overlaying information to an AR head-mounted display and control information to non-user controlled video game characters.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a display of a head-mounted device, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game; 
 a detector of said head-mounted device operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes said landscape characteristics in providing said video game; 
 a locating device of said head-mounted device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes the physical location of said locating device in providing said video game; and 
 a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display and a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparency of said first virtual character is based on a distance. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an event envelope is provided and an event is operable to occur upon entry of said first virtual character into said event envelop. 
     
     
       9. A system comprising:
 a head-mounted display, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game; 
 a detector operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes said landscape characteristics; 
 a locating device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes the physical location of said locating device; and 
 a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display and a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the transparency of said first virtual character is based on a distance. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object. 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 a head-mounted display, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display to with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game; 
 a detector operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic is operable to utilize said landscape characteristics; 
 a locating device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic is operable to utilize the physical location of said locating device; and 
 a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display, a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display, the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled, and the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein an event envelope is provided and an event is operable to occur upon entry of said first virtual character into said event envelop.